Across the nation.

Saudi Suspect Loses Deportation Appeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appellate court has refused to block the deportation of a Saudi dissident suspected of involvement in the 1996 attack that killed 19 U.S. airmen in Saudi Arabia.

Hani al-Sayegh is still waiting to hear from the federal circuit court in Atlanta, which also is considering his bid to avoid being sent to Saudi Arabia for trial.

The Justice Department has argued that both courts lack jurisdiction to act on al-Sayegh's last-minute appeals, which the department said raise political objections "unfit for judicial resolution."

Al-Sayegh unsuccessfully sought asylum in the U.S. on grounds that he would be tortured if returned to Saudi Arabia. The deportation order was issued after al-Sayegh backed out of a deal to help U.S. agents investigate the June 1996 bombing at the Khobar Towers complex near Dhahran.